Friday, January 15, 2010

Reflectitude...

Anyhoo, next month...February, baby...this blog will celebrate 5 years of bitchitude.

I know, where did the time go!?!

I’ve been reading through past blog posts and reading the comments and developing a new appreciation for those who comment.

Oh, I don’t just appreciate those who comment to agree with my ass – though I do adore you folks and you are, of course, brilliant (wink).

But I also appreciate the folks who have taken the time to disagree with this bitch and who have done so without ig’nant rancidity. It takes a lot of skill to challenge without apology yet with respect…I ought to know, since I’ve been moderating my comments for years and Lawd knows that there are too many folks out there who can’t resist their inner bigot or who confuse being condescending with being clever.

For five years I have had the opportunity to experience the good, the bad and the rancid of comments. I didn’t moderate comments when I started blogging, but I quickly learned that some people see comment sections as opportunities to spread hate across the internets…other people see comment sections as a space where they can anonymously proclaim themselves absolutely right and everyone else absolutely wrong…and then there are the missionary comment makers, who feel the need to save this bitch (they aren’t so bad just kind of sad, but are usually so off topic that a bitch has to reject them).

Yeah, I’ve had some really fucked up comments…but I’ve also had folks who have some serious shit to say and who have offered up some amazing and different perspectives on various blog topics. Those folks have made me a better blogger…not because I’ve changed my mind on shit, though I have on some things over the years. No, those comment makers have made me a better blogger because they make this bitch pause and consider before I continue.

Add to that the many comments I’ve had in support or in agreement and…well, I’ve gained so much from that mix that is has been well worth having to suffer the knavish trolls!

Sigh.

So, thanks to all who comment…those who agree, those who sorta agree and those who think a bitch is way off target and needs to know why!

The discussions from your blog are often riveting, enlightening and yes, I also enjoy those who disagree in an educated and respectful fashion. I learn a lot from intelligent disagreement, even if only to understand where the other side is coming from. I find that many people have gone through a valid reasoning process to arrive at wherever they are at, even as they may not be where we are. On the other hand, yeah, some people are just plain stupid. What can you do? Human beings are complex and imperfect. Anyhow, love your blog. Keep riling up the masses! ;o)

For introducing me to the phrase "knavish troll" I'll be forever grateful, even if you never post another thing.

If I lived in St. Louis, I would invite myself to your party, and I would bring homemade German potato salad. Not sure if it's really German, but it's served warm and has bacon and onions and a really delightful vinegar-sugar dressing.

Me too please? I can't resist a party. Make it a potato fest and I'll bring a vichyssoise and my famous sweet potato pie. Or just a bag of chips and a fantasy of the energy to cook.Yeehaw! All you need is spuds.Gotta go - lunchtime.